Wrestlers Who Will Break Out At WWE NXT Takeover: Rival

Ever since the WWE has replaced Florida Championship Wrestling with NXT Wrestling, not only has it become a breeding ground for future WWE stars, but with the help of the WWE Network and the guidance of Triple H, NXT has developed into it’s own unique brand. The alternate product for the WWE had gained so much momentum, it was only a matter of time before live specials began to be produced. On February 11th, 2014 the fifth installment of NXT live specials will be presented on the WWE Network. Titled Rivals, this show presents a stacked card that will rival-no pun intended-each of the other four specials that have proceeded this one. Bray Wyatt, Seth Rollins, Dean Ambrose and Roman Reigns have taken WWE by storm ever since graduating from NXT. Sami Zayn, Adrian Neville, Finn Balor and Kevin Owens seem to be the next set of stars that will grace the big stage of Raw and Smackdown in due time. NXT Takeover: Rival will present the unique opportunity for WWE stars of tomorrow to take their first step into stardom. The question is, who will be the ones to stand out above the rest?

Baron Corbin

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Ever since Baron Corbin was repackaged and brought back to the scene during NXT: TakeOver, he has become an instant hit with the crowds at Full Sail University. Corbin’s quiet demeanor yet rough look brought intrigue to his character. Once Corbin stepped into the ring, it was easily noticeable that the people calling the shots at NXT had big plans for the former Arizona Cardinal. Each opponent that would face Corbin would only last mere seconds, as Corbin would almost literally steamroll through the competition. However, his opponent at Rival, Bull Dempsey, faced a similar path, as too was booked to maul anyone who was in his way. While it would have been nice to see these two meet for the first time on Wednesday evening, both Corbin and Dempsey have competed in matches against one another over the last few weeks on NXT, with Corbin winning both contests. The live NXT special can present a great opportunity to showcase Corbin in a lengthy match featuring what the creative team sees in him. Expect Corbin to look strong, assuring the audience why he has the backing of the higher ups in the locker room.

Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy

Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy
Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy

The year 2014 wasn’t kind to Wesley Blake and Buddy Murphy; the duo was mainly used as enhancement talents to the likes of The Ascension, The Lucha Dragons and The Vaudevillains. However, as each week passed, the team looked better and better in defeat. And if the beginning of 2015 seemed to indicate anything for the team, it will be a bright future. After defeating The Vaudevillains, Blake and Murphy earned a title shot against The Lucha Dragons, in which they shocked the team and won the NXT Tag Team Championships in front of the Full Sail University crowd. The emotional victory could have been saved as a bigger moment for Rival, but nonetheless, the team will look to continue their winning streak in a rematch from their title victory. Both Blake and Murphy feed off of each other so well as a tag team; while Murphy has “the look” of a WWE Superstar and is superior in the ring, Blake can bring it on the mic and with his emotions. The combination still needs seasoning down in NXT, but a win on Wednesday can catapult this team onto the next step on the ladder to make it to the big show.

Hideo Itami

When the trio of Kevin Steen, Fergal Devitt and KENTA all signed NXT contracts, the future looked brighter than ever for the WWE, with NXT reaping the initial benefits. The fan base was excited that the company took chances on three revered wrestlers that didn’t necessarily fit the WWE mold, yet had unique talents to bring to the table. While Steen, now Kevin Owens and Devitt, now Finn Balor, have made huge impacts and significant strides since joining NXT, the same cant be said for KENTA, now known as Hideo Itami. Itami was the first to debut out of the three, receiving a huge introduction from acting General Manager William Regal at NXT Takeover: Fatal 4 Way. However, once joined by Balor as a tag team feuding with The Ascension, it was Balor who took the spotlight in that feud. It hasn’t been for a lack of trying for Itami; remember, he came over from Japan as one of the most respected wrestlers in the country, and had to translate his style to the NXT Universe without knowing English. While he started his in-ring career in NXT as a timid form of his former overly-aggresive style, he has began to find his niche in recent weeks. His match with Balor in the NXT Championship tournament proved to be his best bout to date. Regardless if it was because of his chemistry with Balor or his growing comfort with the American style of wrestling, it is apparent that Itami is starting to catch fire in the NXT ring. Against an experienced and exceptional worker in Tyler Breeze, expect Itami to look great going over at Rival, while his name will finally be put in the same sentence with Zayn, Steen, Neville and Balor.

Each NXT Takeover event gives talent the opportunity to show their talents on a grand stage that is comparable to a WWE Pay Per View. While I fully expect the likes of Steen, Balor, Zayn, Neville, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Kalisto and others to put on great matches that we are accustomed to seeing, I truly believe Rival will be the show to put Corbin, Blake, Murphy and Itami in the upper echelon of NXT.

What do you think? Comment below with your thoughts, opinions, feedback and anything else that was raised.

Dan Federico is a lifelong wrestling fan who has a passion for wrestling, sports and journalism. Feel free to follow me on Twitter @DFBlogger and email me with any questions at dfed023@gmail.com. Thanks!